Following the signs

Most people know him as ‘the sign guy,? but Jim Hamblin, 55, will tell you in his heart of hearts he is a musician. ‘I love playing the drums,? said Hamblin, owner of Hamblin Signs, whose father played guitar and clarinet. When he and his cousin Dan Saxton started to become interested in music, they […]

Trustees take hall renovation work to task

With Township Hall renovations complete, trustees Neil Wallace and David Lohmeier aren’t sure taxpayers’ money was well spent. ‘The prior board, I believe, abdicated its responsibility in a number of ways, including saying the $800,000 was going to be for remodeling and then using money for furniture and equipment, when no list was presented,? Wallace […]

Clerk seeks principled agreement

In attempt to steer the township board in the right direction together, Clerk Shelagh VanderVeen gave each of the board members a copy of the Michigan Townships Association’s ‘Principles of Governance,? and asked them sign their names committing to the principles stated in the document. ‘I know that we have gotten off to a poor […]

Township water, sewer rates to float

A unanimous vote is all it took to make water and sewer capital connection fees, tap fees, and meter fees, a little more feasible as far as interest rates go for both homeowners and businesses. The township’s ordinance originally said the capital, tap and meter fees could be spread out up to 10 years, but […]

Entrepreneur works out plan for future

One thing Julianna Cipponeri, 24, learned working a wide variety of jobs since age 14 was she wanted to be her own boss. ‘I don’t want the high demand of corporate America,? she said. ‘If you’re sick or a family emergency, what do you do?? That’s why Cipponeri says owning her own company ‘Peace & […]

Hair today, gone tomorrow

For the last three years Brock Nowak’s identity has been ‘the boy with the long blonde hair,? however with one snip with some scissors his identity was changed. After hearing about the non-profit organization Locks of Love from his mother, Brock decided to donate for his 13th birthday. ‘I was just growing my hair out […]

Clarkston State Bank reaches out to medical community

With the widespread growth of the Clarkston area’s medical community, Clarkston State Bank offers services tailored for medical offices. ‘One of the things that we found out over the years is that physicians have a hard time taking any time out of their schedule to come into a bank,? said Dawn Horner, executive vice president. […]

It’s back

When Trustee David Lohmeier reviewed a presentation prepared for the township board by Plante Moran, he noticed something interesting. A slide refered to an Oct. 29 memo on funding the new Independence Township Hall, which Lohmeier hadn’t seen before. Requesting the memo, he found it detailed how much water and sewer rates should increase to […]

Keiser’s Role A column by Trevor Keiser

It was between 5:00 and 5:30 on June, 3 when I called my mom to let her know that I would be on my way home shortly It was then that she interupted me and said ‘Trev, we’re sitting in the Emergeny Room.? When I had heard my dad was having pain in his chest […]

Township considers rehab act for Dixie

Business owners along Dixie Highway are a little closer to tax relief to help revitalize the corridor. Independence Township Board voted June 16 to move forward with a Commercial Rehabilitation Tax Abatement plan, creating tax incentives for commercial properties for up to 10 years. Tax break districts can include industrial, commercial, and residential property, said […]